Apparatus for the liquid treatment of skeins of yarn



June 18, 1963 F. scHARFENBERGER 3,093,991

APPARATUS FOR THE LIQUID TREATMENT OF SKEINS OF YARN Filed June 13. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I` |r I I l I I Aria/wey June 18, 1963 F. SCHARFENBERGER 3,093,991

APPARATUS FOR THE LIQUID TREATMENT OF SKEINS OF YARN Filed June 15, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 vrom/sy lin the dyeing apparatus.

United States Patent O APPARATUS FOR'THE LIQUID TREATMENT Friedrich Scharfcnberger, Lindenberg, near Lambrecht, Germany, assigner to Obermaier d: Cie., Neustadt an der Weinstrasse, Germany, a German company Filed .lune 13, 1961, Ser. No. 128,233

Claims priority, application Germany June 14, 19M) 8 Claims. (Cl. 68--188) The present invention relates to the dyeing of skeins ofyarn in a hanging position in closed dyeing apparatus, andin particular to the dyeing of woolen, cotton or synthetic yarn in skein form, the` skeins being suspended from dye stocks or' frames which are fitted in a dyeing chamber in an apparatus preferably provided with a propeller pump for reciprocal circulation of the liquor through the chamber.

Conventional dyeing apparatus has hitherto usually been titted with rectangular material supports. Despite the provisionof balies it has not been possible to eifect auniforrn ilow of the dyestulf in the chamber housing the material and this has resulted in difficulties, particularly patchiness ofthe individual dyed batches of material.

Circular material carriers are also known in which curved yarn bars are arranged concentrically with the propeller. Such arrangements require a centrally disposed pipe of such dimensions that it can accommodate the propeller necessary for ensuring the flow of liquor Again the curved yarn bars adapted to the circular shape of the vat are difficult to load. They are easily deformed and once this occurs the ends of the bars no longer lit in the brackets or supports of the usual crosswise arranged carrying arms. Finally the supports of the curved yarn bars must be strong enough not only to receive the mass but to take into account the mass multiplied by the arm lever of the segment and this in turn leads to difhculties and deformations of the mounting supports or brackets for the ends of the bars.

It is one of the principal objects of the present invention to provide apparatus wherein dyeing is achieved with greater eiiciency than hitherto and wherein highly economic advantages are attained.

It is also an object of the invention to eliminate the disadvantages of the known constructions recited above.

According to the present invention the apparatus is characterised by the provision of a cylindrical insert within the shell of a dye vat, which insert serves as the treatment chamber for the skeins and consists substantially of a hollow cylinder with an imperforate peripheral shell, a perforated base rigidly or otherwise connected thereto and an upper perforated and removable cover, an annular space between the inner wall of the vertical dye vat and the imperforate shell of the cylindrical insert being utilised as part of the circuit for the inflow and return flow of the dye liquor.

Further by the present invention the insert, fitted with a` closed generating surface forms with its cover and base members a unitary structure which is bodily insertable into, and removable from, the dye vat, the interior of the insert having means for suspending the skeins of yarn in.a hanging condition from straight rod-like carriers.

Conveniently the insert is formed by two arcuate shell parts which are hinged together longitudinally of the insert in such manner that, on relative opening movement of the two arcuate shell parts,the inner space for the skeins becomes accessible for loading and unloading purposes.

The divided, simply and easily loaded dyeing cylinder of the present invention which can be inserted in a dye 3,093 ,991 Patented.' June. 18,` 1963 ICC vat of circular section, whether with combined double connection or with two separate pump connections, reliably removes all the abovementioned disadvantages.

The invention enables skeins of yarn to be dyed in a suspension system, in contrast to the known packsystem which is only suitable for cotton skein yarn, byf thedivided. Vimperforate cylindrical casing which` can be swung open. One of the two casing halves isrigidly connected to av or` trames horizontally over the entire cross section of the.

cylindrical chamber, said corner elements ensuring perfect use of the entire capacity of the cylinder and thus helping to achieve avery good liquor ratio.

lFurther by the present invention and for the purpose, of mounting thestraight telescopic yarn stocks or frames which. correspond in length to the appropriate chord length of the circle segment, a supportstrip having several boresformed one above the other is provided on one sideV of leach step-like corner element so as to enable reels of, greatly varying length to be treated;

The material to be dyed may be suspended and dyed in the cylindrical chamber by the single or double. bar systems.

The lower part of the dyeing cylinder conveniently comprises anarchedbase plate with a conical ring for Sealing after insertion of the cylinder in the. dyeing apparatus and. a strongly welded perforated intermediate base plate for uniformly distributing the flow of liquor.

After the two halvesof the dyeing cylinder are loaded the pivotal half is closed and locked to the stationary half by suitable eccentric or other locking means. A perforated distributing plate, which is simultaneously formed as a lid by which the cylinder may be lifted out of the apparatus andA is rigidly. connected to the cylinder by holding screws; serves as the top sealing cover of the inner space. A lifting stirrup associated with a centre tub or dog serves for inserting the` cylinder in, or removing it from, the dyeing apparatus by means ofy lifting gear.

An embodiment of. a closed skein dyeing apparatus of circular `section andwith the cylindrical dyeing. chamber constructed. in accordance with the present invention is shown inthe accompanying drawings by Way of example. In the drawings:

FIGURE l, shows in vertical` section a complete dyeing apparatus with its dyeing chamber constituted by an insert.

FIGURE'Z is .a plan of the insert with the cover in position.

FIGURE 3 shows the insert in the swungopen or loading condition and with the cover removed.

FIGURE 4 is a cross section in .plan of onequarter of the dyeingcylinder sliowingthe supporting strip for the yarn stocks or frames.

FIGURE 5 isa View in elevation internally of the dyeing chamber showing the arrangement of the yarn stocks or-frames.

In `an upright dyeing. apparatus which, if desired, mayA be used as a high temperature apparatus,.a.vat or casing i circular .section being closed by means of atightly sealing; cover 2, has a circular cylindrical insert' 3 formon a perforated upper cover A Which is firmly secured to the dyeing cylinder 3 by screws 6.

When the apparatus is closed the cylindrical insert 3 is held on its conical seat in the vat by the application of a small pressure through the medium of a threaded spindle 8 which is mounted on the cover 2 of the dyeing apparatus `1, this pressure being exerted on a lifting cam or dog 9 of the closure cover 5. When the apparatus is open the dyeing cylinder is maintained in position by a holding bridge which is attached to the vat.

The dyeing cylinder 3 comprises substantially a lower liquor distributing space or header 10 and a packing space 11 for the skeins under dyeing treatment. The distributing space 10 of the cylinder 3 has a convex base 12 which is provided With a seating ring 13, adapted for engagement with the conical ring 7, while the top of the space is bounded by a perforated lower cylindrical base 14 of the packing space 11. This header 10 ensures a uniform distribution of the liquor owing upwardly from the bottom to the top of the dyeing cylinder. The packing space or dyeing chamber 11 for receiving the material I15 to be dyed comprises an imperforate cylindrical casing 16 which is bounded `at the bottom by the perforated intermediate base 14 and at the top by the perforated cover 5.

The imperforate cylinder casing 16 is arranged to swing open for loading or unloading the packing space 11 of the dyeing cylinder 3 and for this purpose it consists of a stationary cylindrical half portion -17 and an angularly displaceable cylindrical half portion 19 which is connected to the fixed half by one or more hinges 18. Thus the cylindrical half portion 19 is rotatably journalled on one side to the stationary half 17 by the hinges 18 which are disposed longitudinally of the insert, so 4as to be capable of turning through an angle of say 45-50, whilst the other side is provided with locking pins or studs 2t) with which eccentric or other locking means 21 engage to enable the half portion 19 to be tightly closed with the stationary half.

It will be appreciated that with a construction as shown, the cylinder 3 `and its cover 5, the perforated base 14 of the dyeing chamber and the concave base 12 of the header 10, constitute a self-contained unitary structure which may be removed bodily from the vat when desired and when in use is located in spaced relationship from the wall of the vat 1 so as to form an annulus for the passage therethrough of the dyeing liquor either before or after operating on the skeins suspended within the treatment chamber 3.

By dividing the cylinder 3 into two halves and arranging for the movable half 19 to be swung out to an extent up to say 45 to 50, it is possible to ensure easy loading or unloading of the packing space while the most favourable liquor ratio or consistency is achieved by maintaining the circular cross section of the packing space.

The two halves of the cylinder casing are provided at predetermined spaced intervals with step-like tapering vertical corner elements 24, the inner sides of which are provided with holding strips 25 for the insertable yarn stocks or frame members 23 which strips in turn have holes 26 of rectangular or polygonal form cut at predetermined spaced longitudinal intervals. These apertures 26, of which -a large number is provided, enable skeins of any desired length from the shortest to the longest to be hung up in straight or staggered formation.

The material to be dyed may be suspended on straight and, if desired, already loaded yarn stocks 23 in the dyeing cylinder 3 to form a common and uniformly densely packed mass of material 1'5. It has a cross section which is substantially circular and which is wholly traversed by the liquor with absolute uniformity, e.g. in conjunction with the lower .distributing space or header 10 in the direction of flow yfrom the bottom upwardly through the upper and perforated cover S which, after the loading and closing of the cylinder 3, is mounted and screwed down on the material 15 to be dyed. After passing through the perforated cover 5 the liquor ows radially in every direction into and through an annular intermediate space 27 between the cylinder 3 and Walls of the vat I1 to the botom of the vat Where it is heated by a steam coil 28 and is sucked into an outlet 1 of the vat 1, such as for example by a circulating pump (not shown) and heated by the indirect steam coil 28.

With an automatic change of liquor, i.e. with liquor flow through the material to be dyed from top to bottom, the liquor ows into the lower heating chamber of the dyeing apparatus, thence rises positively passing around and through the annular space 27, thence radially inwardly and through the upper perforated cover 5 with a uniform distribution through the material mass 15 and finally, through the outlet 3 of the insert 3 arranged adjacent the outlet 1', to the circulation pump whereby the reciprocating liquor circuit is closed.

It will be appreciated that dyed samples may be extracted through a sampling aperture (not shown).

Upon the conclusion of the dyeing process, which is effected in the usual manner, the dyeing cylinder is removed from the vat itself by means of a lifting member with the aid of its stirrup 4. After unscrewing and removing the perforated cover 5, the cylinder may be opened by means of the eccentric clip 21 and the yarn stocks 23 with the yarn skeins 15 removed and loaded again at once with another prepared set for the next dyeing operation.

It will be appreciated that the hinged parts 17, 19 may be of similar dimensions in which case the hinge line 18 is located on a medial longitudinal plane of division of the insert, but if desired they may be unequal. When closed they are preferably sealed by rubber profiles which are adapted to abut under pressure.

In the foregoing, the invention has been described with reference to a specific illustrative device. lt will be evident, however, that variations and modifications, as well as the substitution of equivalent elements for those shown for illustration, may be made without departing from the scope and broader spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than in a limiting sense.

I claim:

l. Apparatus for the liquid treatment of skeins of yarn and the like comprising a closed upright vat having a top, a bottom and cylindrical side wall, a closed hollow cylindrical insert conforming to and being concentrically removably mounted within said vat, to provide an intervening annular space therebetween and said vat, said insert having a perforated top wall and imperforate bottom and said walls, supporting means within said insert for suspending therein skeins of yarn to be treated in densely packed hanging position, and inlet and outlet means mounted in the bottom walls of said insert and said vat for maintaining a forced continuous flow of treating liquid in either direction through said insert and said annular space serving as an inflow or return flow passage, respectively.

2. In apparatus as claimed in claim l, the inner wall of said insert being peripherally reinforced by vertical step-like supporting members extending over the entire length of the insert, and holding strips provided with predeterminedly spaced supporting holes for said carrier rods, said strips being aixed to the steps of said members.

3. ln apparatus as claimed in claim l, said insert being composed of two arcuate shells hinged together longitudinally for loading and unloading, respectively, the skeins of yarn before and after a dyeing operation.

4. In apparatus as claimed in claim l, said insert being divided in a medial longitudinal plane into two equal semi-cylindrical parts being hinged together on one side of the insert, to afford opening and closing of said parts for loading and unloading, respectively, the skeins of yarn before and after a dyeing operation.

5. In apparatus as claimed in claim 4, said cylindrical parts being interconnected by a hinge strip extending in a direction of the axis of the cylinder on one side thereof, and releasable locking means provided at the opposite side of said parts.

6. Apparatus for dyeing skeins of yarn comprising a closed vertically disposed and substantially cylindrical dye vat having a bottom and a removable cover, a cylindrical insert forming a dyeing chamber concentrically and removably mounted within said vat, to provide an intermediate annular space between said vat and said insert, said insert having an imperforate cylindrical Wall, a perforated top wall, a first perforated bottom wall and a second imperforate bottom wall outwardly of and spaced from said rst bottom Wall, to provide a distributing space adjoining to and separate from said chamber, supporting means within said insert for suspending therein skeins of yarn to be dyed in densely packed hanging position, and inlet and outlet conduit means communicating with the inside of said vat and said distributing space, for maintaining a forced continuous flow of dye liquor in either direction through said insert and said space.

7. In dyeing apparatus as claimed in claim 6, said insert forming a unitary structure bodily insertable into and removable from said vat and being divided in a medial longitudinal plane into two equal semicylindrical parts being hinged together on one side of the insert, to aord opening and closing of said parts for loading and unloading, respectively, the skeins of yarn before and after a dyeing operation.

8. In dyeing apparatus as claimed in claim 6, one of said conduit members terminating in the bottom of said vat and the other conduit member passing through and being mounted in said bot-tom and terminating in a ange having a conical seat, and said second bottom wall of said insert having a anged opening closely fitting said seat.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,359,043 Dudley Nov. 16, 1920 2,207,899 Seymour July 16, 1940 20 2,944,318 Scholl July 12, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 818 Great Britain of 1887 390,895 France Aug. 11, 1908 

1. APPARATUS FOR THE LIQUID TREATMENT OF SKEINS OF YARN AND THE LIKE COMPRISING A CLOSED UPRIGHT VAT HAVING A TOP, A BOTTOM AND CYLINDRICAL SIDE WALL, A CLOSED HOLLOW CYLINDRICAL INSERT CONFORMING TO AND BEING CONCENTRICALLY REMOVABLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID VAT, TO PROVIDE AN INTERVENING ANNULAR SPACE THEREBETWEEN AND SAID VAT, SAID INSERT HAVING A PERFORATED TOP WALL AND IMPERFORATE BOTTOM AND SAID WALLS, SUPPORTING MEANS WITHIN SAID INSERT FOR SUSPENDING THEREIN SKEINS OF YARN TO BE TREATED IN DENSELY PACKED HANGING POSITION, AND INLET AND OUTLET MEANS MOUNTED IN THE BOTTOM WALLS OF SAID INSERT AND SAID VAT FOR MAINTAINING A FORCED CONTINUOUS FLOW OF TREATING LIQUID IN EITHER DIRECTION THROUGH SAID INSERT AND SAID ANNULAR SPACE SERVING AS AN INFLOW OR RETURN FLOW PASSAGE, RESPECTIVELY. 